Coordination, 2014
- Uses for coordination
- Does not use for coordination
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Data sharing
Facilitated through the use of statewide information systems allowing for consistent data sharing between systems.
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Committees or advisory groups
Multidisciplinary groups that often have regularly scheduled meetings to brainstorm ways to improve systems integration.
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Formal interagency MOUs
Collaborative agreements to guide systems integration efforts
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Informal interagency agreements
Commonly based on historical practice, mutual trust, and recognition of the need to collaborate in order to serve dual-status youth.
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Statute and/or rules
Rules that mandate systems integration efforts
Summary
In Arkansas, data sharing between the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) and the Division of Youth Services (DYS) occurs at the state level only for youth with a DYS commitment and placement and informally to the State Public Defender Ombudsman when a delinquency matter is scheduled for a youth with an Arkansas Division of Children and Family Services (DCFS) case. Two statute sections define responsibilities for coordination. The first provision, 927 330(g)(1), requires all concurrent DYS and DCFS wards to defer to the court/judge with the child welfare case on any placement decisions, but doesn't require the consolidation of cases. The second statute, 927.330(c)(1)(c)(2), requires that DYS wards being released from custody without a home, relative or kin to return to be opened as a child welfare case to plan for substitute care/transitional living services.
Additionally, DYS and DCFS conduct joint case planning meetings on dual status youth who have DYS commitments to residential custody. The State Public Defender Ombudsman functions as a coordination liaison by attending all of the monthly joint meetings. DYS and DCFS case managers and the respective attorneys are invited/notified of the meetings. There are typically 40-45 youth at any given time in this status in Arkansas and their respective cases are staffed during a full day each month. The State Public Defender Ombudsman also works with DCFS to divert youth from placement when a delinquency petition is filed. The Ombudsman informally receives notice from the AOC when a delinquency matter is scheduled for a dual status youth and provides outreach and education to DCFS social workers to avoid secure detention where feasible and encourage informal handling of the delinquency matter and DYS commitment. The Ombudsman is also a coordination liaison for dual status youth returning from placement and works with state and local partners to streamline reinstatement of health coverage for youth covered by Medicaid and education reintegration.
Learn more: Arkansas is profiled in more detail in the JJGPS CaseStudy: When Systems Collaborate: How Three Jurisdictions Improved their Handling of Dual-Status Cases.
